Slot machine and playing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A slot machine according to the present invention is a slot machine comprising: a display having a display area to which a plurality of symbols are to be arranged; and a controller, the controller determining whether or not a predetermined symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, specifying a specified symbol arrangement from a plurality of candidate symbol arrangements according to a command input by a player when the symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, and rearranging the plurality of symbols within the display area, based on the specified symbol arrangement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/834,812 filed on Aug. 2, 2006. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slot machine and a playing method thereof.

2. Discussion of the Background

In conventional slot machines, if a player inserts game media such as medals, coins or bills into an insertion slot of the slot machine and pushes a spin button, then a plurality of symbols are displayed in a scrolling manner to a display provided on the front surface of a casing and, thereafter, the respective symbols are automatically stopped, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,960,133, 6,012,983 and 6,093,102. In this case, when the respective symbols start to be displayed in a scrolling manner by the input through the spin button, symbols are selected using random numbers, and if the combination of the selected symbols is a predetermined winning combination, this causes transition from a basic game to a bonus game (for example, a mystery bonus, a second game and the like) and, then, the bonus game is executed. Further, such slot machines are configured to conduct a payout depending on the winning state occurring along with progression of games.

Further, among conventional slot machines, there are some slot machines which conduct two types of payouts which are payouts determined according to the combinations of symbols rearranged along winning lines and payouts determined according to the number of displayed scatter symbols, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,999 and U.S. Pat. No. 2002-0065124-A1. In such a conventional slot machine, a symbol arrangement is preliminarily determined, and there is a need for provision of slot machines capable of offering novel entertainment.

The contents of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,960,133, 6,012,983, 6,093,102 and 6,904,999 and US 2002-0065124-A1 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a slot machine having the following configuration.

That is, the slot machine of the present invention is a slot machine comprising: a display having a display area to which a plurality of symbols are to be arranged; and a controller. Here, the controller determines whether or not a predetermined symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, specifies a specified symbol arrangement from a plurality of candidate symbol arrangements according to a command input by a player when the symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, and rearranges the plurality of symbols within the display area, based on the specified symbol arrangement.

Further, the present invention adopts the following configuration in addition to the configuration described above.

That is, in the slot machine according to the present invention, the controller further comprises selecting the plurality of candidate symbol arrangements from a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements, according to the number of BETs.

Further, the present invention adopts the following configuration in addition to the configuration described above.

That is, in the slot machine according to the present invention, the controller further comprises rearranging the plurality of symbols based on the specified symbol arrangement, during a plurality of games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view for illustrating a symbol matrix;

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating an exemplary symbol arrangement;

FIG. 2B is a view illustrating the probability of establishment of each prize and the number of payouts;

FIG. 3A is a view schematically illustrating an exemplary image displayed within a display area;

FIG. 3B is a view schematically illustrating an exemplary image displayed within a display area;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of the slot machine illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a subroutine of slot game execution processing; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a subroutine of symbol arrangement specification processing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a view for illustrating a symbol matrix.

A slot machine 10 is a standalone type slot machine that is not connected to a network, but the present invention can also be applied to a slot machine connected to a network.

In FIG. 1, a symbol matrix SM which is displayed to a lower image display panel 16 (see FIG. 4) included in the slot machine 10 according to the present invention is illustrated. The symbol matrix SM includes five columns and three rows and is constituted by a total of 15 symbols S1 to S15. In the figure, the five columns are designated as C1 to C5. In the symbol matrix SM, a single winning line WL is set along the center row.

The respective symbols S (S1 to S15) are scrolled along the columns C (C1 to C5), in the direction of arrows illustrated in the figure. For example, respective symbols S1 to S3 are scrolled along the columns C1, such that the symbol S1 is moved toward the symbol S2 while the symbol S2 is moved toward the symbol S3. Thereafter, the scrolling of the respective symbols S is stopped, so that respective symbols S are rearranged. According to the symbols S rearranged in the symbol matrix SM, a payout value is determined.

Next, there will be described arrangements of symbols rearranged in the symbol matrix SM.

The slot machine 10 has three types (types A, B and C) of symbol arrangements. In the symbol matrix SM, symbols S are arranged based on one of these types of symbol arrangements.

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating the symbol arrangement of the type A.

The respective columns C1 to C5 each have 22 symbols arranged thereon. There are 9 types of symbols “APPLE”, “JACKPOT7”, “BLUE7”, “BELL”, “STRAWBERRY”, “PLUM”, “CHERRY”, “ORANGE” and “SCATTER”. The symbols are scrolled based on the symbol arrangement. For example, in a case where the symbols S1 to S3 along the first column C1 (see FIG. 1) are “JACKPOT7”, “PLUM” and “ORANGE” (Code Nos. 1, 2 and 3), when the symbols S1 to S3 are scrolled by an amount corresponding to a single symbol, the symbols S1 to S3 are changed to “CHERRY”, “JACKPOT7” and “PLUM” (Code Nos. 21, 1 and 2).

With respect to symbols other than “SCATTER”, in an event that the same 5 symbols are arranged along the winning line WL, a prize (a winning combination) is established. On the other hand, in an event that three or more of “SCATTER” are rearranged in the symbol matrix SM, a prize is established.

The symbol arrangements of the types B and C (not shown) are different from the symbol arrangement of the type A and, accordingly, offer probabilities of establishment of prizes different from those offered by the symbol arrangement of the type A.

FIG. 2B is a view illustrating the probabilities of establishment of respective prizes and the corresponding numbers of coin-outs.

The symbol “APPLE” is a bonus game trigger, and upon arrangement of five of “APPLE” along the winning line WL, a winning combination is established and a predetermined number of free games (for example, 10 free games) are executed. Such free games are executed as if the same number of coins as that inserted at the time of establishment of the free games have been inserted, even though no coin has been inserted.

“JACKPOT7” is a jackpot trigger. If five of the “JACKPOT7” are arranged along the winning line WL, a payout is conducted based on a progressive jackpot. Since the slot machine 10 is a standalone type slot machine, the payout based on the progressive jackpot is the sum of an accumulated value (a value resulted from accumulation of a portion of the number of inserted game media) in the single slot machine 10 and an initial payout value.

However, in the present invention, the accumulated value used in the event of a progressive jackpot is not limited thereto. For example, in the case where the slot machine is connected to a network, the accumulated value may be an accumulated value in the same type of slot machines in a single casino, an accumulated value in the same type of slot machines in the same area (for example, state or country), or the like.

For “BLUE7”, “BELL”, “STRAWBERRY”, “PLUM”, “CHERRY” and “ORANGE”, respective numbers of coins to be paid out per single inserted coin are defined. Further, for “SCATTER”, there are prizes of “SCATTER×3”, “SCATTER×4” and “SCATTER×5”, and different numbers of coins to be paid out are defined for the respective prizes.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the respective symbol arrangements offer different probabilities of establishment of the respective prizes. For the symbol arrangement of the type A, the probabilities of establishment of the prizes with higher payout values (the bonus game trigger and the jackpot trigger (JACKPOT7”) are set to lower values, while the probabilities of establishment of the other prizes with lower payout values are set to higher values.

For the symbol arrangement of the type B, the probabilities of establishment of the prizes with higher payout values are set to lower values, while the probabilities of establishment of the prizes with lower payout values are set to higher values, in comparison with the symbol arrangement of the type A.

Accordingly, if symbols are rearranged based on the symbol arrangement of the type B, the prizes with higher payout values will be established with lower payout values while the prizes with lower payout values will be established with relatively higher probabilities, in comparison with the case of using the type A.

For the symbol arrangement of the type C, the probabilities of establishment of the prizes with higher payout values are set to higher values, while the probabilities of establishment of the prizes with lower payout values are set to lower values, in comparison with the symbol arrangement of the type A.

Accordingly, if symbols are rearranged based on the symbol arrangement of the type C, the prizes with higher payout values will be established with higher probabilities, while the prizes with lower payout values will be established with lower probabilities, in comparison with the case of using the type B.

If games are started, symbols are rearranged based on the symbol arrangement of the type A (see FIG. 2A), at first. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, if three or more scatter symbols “SCATTER” are rearranged in the symbol matrix SM, the symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied. Namely, in the present embodiment, the symbol arrangement specification condition is that three or more scatter symbols are rearranged in the symbol matrix SM based on the symbol arrangement of the type A.

If the symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, an image for selecting one of the symbol arrangements of the types A to C is displayed to the lower image display panel 16, as illustrated in FIG. 3B.

A touch panel 69 (see FIG. 5) is provided in the lower image display panel 16, so that a player can specify a specified symbol arrangement by touching one of images of “TYPE A”, “TYPE B” and “TYPE C” displayed to the lower image display panel 16 through the touch panel 69. Further, the images corresponding to the respective symbol arrangements include images visually indicating the probability of establishment of prizes and the amount of payout values.

At this time, if the player specifies the specified symbol arrangement as the symbol arrangement of the type A, symbols are rearranged based on the symbol arrangement of the type A, subsequently. On the other hand, if the player specifies the specified symbol arrangement as the symbol arrangement of the type B or the type C, symbols are rearranged based on the symbol arrangement of the type B or the type C during a predetermined number of games (100 games, in the present embodiment) and, thereafter, symbols are rearranged based on the symbol arrangement of the type A.

While, in the present embodiment, there will be described a case where a symbol matrix SM constituted by a total of 15 symbols along 5 columns and 3 rows is displayed to the lower image display panel 16 included in the slot machine 10, there is no particular limitation on the numbers of columns and rows constituting the symbol matrix, in the present invention. Further, provided that respective symbols are rearranged based on a symbol arrangement, it is not necessary that these symbols constitute a symbol matrix. The positions and the form at and in which symbols are arranged can be properly changed as required.

While, in the present embodiment, there will be described a case where symbols are displayed to the lower image display panel 16, it is not necessary that symbols are displayed as images thereto in the present invention. For example, the present invention can be applied to a slot machine including reels, by making the symbol arrangement on the reels variable. As such a configuration capable of varying the symbol arrangement on reels, it is possible to provide a configuration capable of storing, in the machine, reels separately from the reels used for displaying symbols and also capable of interchanging, in the machine, the separate reels through mechanical transfer and replacement.

In the present embodiment, there will be described a case where the slot machine 10 includes plural symbol arrangements constituted by symbols along all the columns and performs replacement among these symbol arrangements along all the columns, according to the specification of the specified symbol arrangement. However, symbol arrangements can be provided for respective columns or for respective symbols (respective single frames), in the present invention.

In the present invention, there can be provided plural symbol arrangements (five symbol arrangements, for example), and plural candidate symbol arrangements (for example, three symbol arrangements) can be made selectable, according to the number of BETs. Further, the method for inputting the command for specifying the specified symbol arrangement is not limited to use of a touch panel, but it is also possible to use switches, levers, handles and the like.

As symbol arrangements which are made selectable in an event that the symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, it is possible to provide symbol arrangements having the following characteristics, for example, in comparison with a normally used symbol arrangement. As a matter of course, the symbol arrangements to be used in the present invention are not limited to the following symbol arrangements (I) to (V):

(I) a symbol arrangement which offers a higher probability of establishment of the jackpot trigger, but offers lower probabilities of establishment of the other prizes;

(II) a symbol arrangement which offers a lower probability of establishment of the jackpot trigger, but offers higher probabilities of establishment of the other prizes;

(III) a symbol arrangement which offers a higher probability of establishment of the bonus game trigger, but offers lower probabilities of establishment of the other prizes;

(IV) a symbol arrangement which offers a lower probability of establishment of the bonus game trigger, but offers higher probabilities of establishment of the other prizes; and

(V) a symbol arrangement which offers higher probabilities of establishment of all the prizes.

Also, it is possible to form the respective symbol arrangements to include different numbers of symbols or different types of symbols. Further, it is possible to form the respective symbol arrangements to include symbols of different sizes. In a case of forming the respective symbol arrangements to include symbols of different sizes, it is possible to cause the current symbol arrangement on which games are being played to be recognizable from the outside. Accordingly, it is possible to offer, to the player, novel enjoyment due to the external factor, in such a way that the, player has a sense of superiority when viewed by other players.

In the present embodiment, there has been described a case where the symbol arrangement specification condition is that a predetermined number (three) of or more scatter symbols are rearranged based on the normally used symbol arrangement (the symbol arrangement of the type A). However, in the present invention, the symbol arrangement specification condition is not limited to the case. The symbol arrangement specification condition may be, for example, that a predetermined winning combination is established, that a bonus game is ended, that the cumulative number of games since the end of a bonus game reaches a predetermined number, and the like.

In the present embodiment, there has been described a case where the symbol arrangement for use for rearrangement is restored from the specified symbol arrangement to the normally used symbol arrangement on the condition (hereinafter, referred to as “an ending condition”) that a predetermined number of games (100 games) have been played since the specified symbol arrangement was specified. However, the ending condition is not limited to the case, in the present invention. For example, the ending condition may be that a predetermined number of or more scatter symbols are rearranged, that a predetermined winning combination is established, that a bonus game is started, and the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where, a different specified symbol arrangement can be specified if the symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, symbols are rearranged based on the specified symbol arrangement when a specified symbol arrangement has been specified, and then, if the ending condition is satisfied, restoration of the initially set symbol arrangement is caused. However, the present invention is not limited to the case. For example, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which, every time the symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, a different specified symbol arrangement can be specified.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The slot machine 10 includes: a cabinet 11; a top box 12 placed on the upper side of the cabinet 11; and a main door 13 provided at the front face of the cabinet 11. The lower image display panel 16 is provided in front of the main door 13. The lower image display panel 16 includes a liquid crystal display panel which displays a symbol matrix SM (see FIGS. 1 and 3) constituted by a total of 5 columns×3 rows=15 symbols. The lower image display panel 16 is the display of the present invention. In the lower image display panel 16, there are provided a number-of-credits display section 31 and a number-of-payouts display section 32 (not shown in the figure) The number-of-credits display section 31 displays an image indicating the number of credited coins. The number-of-payouts display section 32 displays an image indicating the number of coin-outs as the payout value.

Further, a touch panel 69, which is not shown in the figure, is provided on the front face of the lower image display panel 16 and the player can input various kinds of commands such as a specification of the specified symbol arrangement by operating the touch panel 69.

Provided below the lower image display panel 16 are: a control panel 20 constituted by plural buttons 23 to 27 which are input by the player, commands associated with progress of the game; a coin receiving slot 21 accepting coins into the cabinet 11; and a bill validator 22.

The control panel 20 is provided with: a start button 23; a change button 24; a CASHOUT button 25; a 1-BET button 26; and a maximum BET button 27. The start button 23 is used for inputting a command to start the game. The change button 24 is used in a case where a player requests an attendant of a recreation facility to exchange money. The CASHOUT button 25 is used for inputting a command to pay out credited coins to a coin tray 18.

The 1-BET button 26 is used for inputting a command to bet one coin of the credited coins. The maximum BET button 27 is used for inputting a command to bet the maximum number of coins that can be bet on one game (50 coins in the present embodiment) of the credited coins.

The bill validator 22 is used not only for discriminating a false note from a true note but also for accepting the true note into the cabinet 11. The bill validator 22 may be configured such that a ticket 39 with a bar code which will be described later can be read. A belly glass 34 on which characters and the like of the slot machine 10 are depicted is provided on the front face of the lower portion of the main door 13, that is, below the control panel 20.

On a front surface of the top box 12, an upper image display panel 33 is provided. The upper image display panel 33 includes a liquid crystal display panel which displays, for example, images introducing the contents of games and explaining the rules of games.

A speaker 29 is provided in the top box 12. A ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a data display 37 and a key pad 38 are provided beneath the upper image display panel 33. The ticket printer 35 prints on a ticket a bar code in which data such as the number of credits, date, time, identification number of the slot machine 10 and the like are encoded, and outputs the ticket 39 with a bar code. A player can make the ticket 39 with a bar code to be read by a second slot machine and play a game in the second slot machine, or exchange in a predetermined place (for example, at a cashier in the casino) of a recreation facility the ticket 39 with a bar code to notes and the like.

The card reader 36 is used for reading data from a smart card and writing data onto a smart card. The smart card is a card to be carried by a player, and for example, data to identify a player and data concerning a history of a game played by a player are stored thereon. Data corresponding to a coin, a note or a credit may also be stored on the smart card. As an alternative of a smart card, a magnetic stripe card may be adopted. The data display 37 is made of a fluorescent display and the like, and it is used, for example, to display data read by the card reader 36 and data input by a player through the key pad 38. The key pad 38 is used for inputting a command or data to issue a ticket and the like.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the slot machine shown in FIG. 4.

A gaming board 50 includes: CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, ROM 55 and boot ROM 52 which are interconnected to one another by an internal bus; a card slot 53S which accepts a memory card 53; an IC socket 54S which accepts GAL (Generic Array Logic) 54.

The memory card 53 is formed from a nonvolatile memory such as CompactFlash (registered trademark) and stores game programs and game system programs. The game programs include a symbol selection program. The aforementioned symbol selection program is a program for determining the symbols to be rearranged in a symbol matrix. The aforementioned symbol selection program includes a plurality of symbol arrangements in association with plural types of payout ratios (for example, 80%, 84%, 88%) and symbol weighing data in association with each of the symbol arrangement. The symbol weighing data is data indicating the correspondence between respective symbols and one or more random numbers which fall in a predetermined numerical range (0 to 255). The payout ratios are determined based on payout-ratio setting data output from the GAL 54 and, based on the symbol weighing data associated with the payout ratios, the symbols to be rearranged in the symbol matrix are determined. The game programs also include a plurality of symbol arrangements (for example, see FIG. 2A). Further, the game programs include table data (see FIG. 2B) indicating the correspondence between symbols and payout value.

Further, the card slot 53S is configured to allow the memory card 53 to be inserted thereinto or ejected therefrom and is connected to a mother board 40 through an IDE bus. Accordingly, the memory card 53 can be ejected from the card slot 53S, then other game programs and other game system programs can be written into the memory card 53 and then the memory card 53 can be inserted into the card slot 53S to change the types and contents of games played in the slot machine 10. The game programs include programs relating to progression of games. Further, the game programs include image data and sound data to be output during games. The image data includes image data and the like indicating a symbol matrix.

The GAL 54 is a type of PLD having a fixed OR array structure. The GAL 54 includes plural input ports and plural output ports and, if predetermined data is input to an input port, the GAL 54 outputs data corresponding to the aforementioned data from an output port. The data output from this output port is the aforementioned payout-ratio setting data.

Further, the IC socket 54S is configured to allow the GAL 54 to be attached thereto and detached therefrom and is connected to the mother board 40 through a PCI bus. Accordingly, the GAL 54 can be replaced with another GAL 54 to change the payout-ratio setting data.

CPU 51, ROM 55 and boot ROM 52 interconnected to each other by the internal bus are connected to the mother board 40 by PCI bus.

The mother board 40 is constructed with a general-purpose mother board commercially available (a printed circuit board on which basic parts of a personal computer are mounted) and includes: a main CPU 41; ROM (Read Only Memory) 42; RAM (Random Access Memory) 43 and a communication interface 44. The mother board 40 is the controller of the present invention.

ROM 42 is constituted by a memory device such as a flash memory and stores thereon a program such as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) executed by the main CPU 41 and permanent data. When BIOS is executed by the main CPU 41, not only is an initialization processing for predetermined peripheral devices conducted, but a capture processing for the game program and game system program stored on the memory card 53 is also started via the gaming board 50. In the present invention, contents of ROM 42 may be rewritable or not rewritable.

RAM 43 stores data and a program used at the time of operation of the main CPU 41. RAM 43 can also store the game program. RAM 43 further stores data on the number of credits, the number of coin-in or coin-out for one game, and the like.

Both a body PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 60 and a door PCB 80 which will be described later are connected to the mother board 40 by USB. A power supply unit 45 is also connected to the mother board 40.

Equipment and devices which generate input signals to be input to the main CPU 41, and equipment and devices of which operations are controlled by a control signal output from the main CPU 41 are connected to the body PCB 60 and the door PCB 80. The main CPU 41 executes a game program stored in RAM 43 based on an input signal input to the main CPU 41, and thereby performs a predetermined computational processing, stores results thereof into RAM 43 and transmits a control signal to each equipment and device as a control processing for each of the equipment and devices.

A lamp 30, a hopper 66, a coin detecting section 67, a graphic board 68, a speaker 29, a touch panel 69, a bill validator 22, a ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a key switch 38S and a data display 37 are connected to the body PCB 60. The lamp 30 is lit up in a predetermined pattern based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41.

The hopper 66 is installed in the cabinet 11 and pays out a predetermined number of coins from a coin payout exit 19 to a coin tray 18 based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41. A coin detecting section 67 is installed inside the coin payout exit 19 and when detecting that a predetermined number of coins has been paid out from the coin payout exit 19, outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41.

The graphic board 68 controls, based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41, image displays on the upper image display panel 33 and the lower image display panel 16. The number of credits stored in RAM 43 is displayed to the number-of-credits display section 31 (not shown in the figure) of the lower image display panel 16. The number of coin-out is displayed to the number-of-payouts display section 31 (not shown in the figure) of the lower image display panel 16. The graphic board 68 is equipped with VDP (Video Display Processor) which generates image data based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41 and a video RAM which temporarily stores image data generated by VDP, and of the like equipments. Note that image data used in generating image data with VDP is contained in a game program read from the memory card 53 and stored in RAM 43.

The bill validator 22 not only discriminates a true note from a false note, but also accepts the true note into the cabinet 11. The bill validator 22, when accepting a true note, outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41 based on a face amount of the note. The main CPU 41 stores in RAM 43 the number of credits corresponding to the amount of the note transmitted with the input signal.

The ticket printer 35, based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41, prints on a ticket a bar code obtained by encoding data such as the number of credits, date and time, the identification number of the slot machine 10, and of the like data stored in RAM 43, and outputs the ticket as the ticket 39 with a bar code.

The card reader 36 transmits to the main CPU 41 data read from the smart card and writes data onto the smart card based on a control signal from the main CPU 41. The key switch 38S is provided on the keypad 38, and when the keypad 38 is operated by a player, outputs a predetermined input signal to the main CPU 41. The data display 37 displays, based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41, data read by the card reader 36 and data input by a player through the key pad 38.

The control panel 20, a reverter 21S, a coin counter 21C and a cold cathode tube 81 are connected to the door PCB 80. The control panel 20 is provided with a start switch 23S corresponding to the start button 23, a change switch 24S corresponding to the change button 24, a CASHOUT switch 25S corresponding to the CASHOUT button 25, a 1-BET switch 26S corresponding to the 1-BET button 26, and a maximum BET switch 27S corresponding to the maximum BET button 27. When the buttons 23 to 27 are operated by a player, each of the switches 23S to 27S corresponding thereto outputs input signals to the main CPU 41.

The coin counter 21C is installed inside the coin receiving slot 21, and discriminates whether a coin inserted by a player into the coin receiving slot 21 is true or false. Coins other than the true ones are discharged from the coin payout exit 19. The coin counter 21C also outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41 when a true coin is detected.

The reverter 21S operates based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41 and distributes coins recognized by the coin counter 21C as true coins into a cash box (not shown in the figure) or the hopper 66, which are disposed in the slot machine 10. In other words, when the hopper 66 is filled with coins, true coins are distributed by the reverter 21S into the cash box. On the other hand, when the hopper 66 is not filled with coins, true coins are distributed into the hopper 66. The cold cathode tube 81 works as a backlight installed on the back face sides of the lower image display panel 16 and the upper image display panel 33 and is lit up based on a control signal output from the main CPU 41.

Next, description will be given of a processing performed in the slot machine 10.

The main CPU 41 reads and executes the game program to progress a game.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a slot game execution processing.

In the slot game execution processing, the main CPU 41 at first determines whether or not a coin is BET (step S11). In the processing, the main CPU 41 determines whether an input signal output from the 1-BET switch 26S or the maximum BET switch 27S has been received or not when the 1-BET button 26 or the maximum BET button 27 is operated, respectively. If it is determined that a coin has not been BET, the process returns to step S11.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that a coin is BET, the main CPU 41 conducts a processing for subtracting the number of credits stored in RAM 43 according to the number of BET coins (step S12). In a case where the number of BET coins is more than the number of credits stored in RAM 43, the process returns to step S11 without conducting subtraction on the number of credits stored in RAM 43. In a case where the number of BET coins exceeds the upper limit (50 coins in the present embodiment) up to which a BET is possible in one game, the process advances to step S12 without conducting a processing for subtracting the number of BET coins from the number of credits stored in RAM 43. Further, the main CPU 41 cumulatively accumulates, in the RAM 43, a portion of the subtracted number of credits (for example, a predetermined ratio) as an accumulated value for a progressive jackpot.

Then, the main CPU 41 determines whether the start button 23 has been turned ON or not (step S13). In the processing, the main CPU 41 determines, when the start button 23 is pressed, whether an input signal output from the start switch 23S has been received or not.

If it is determined that the start button 23 has not been turned ON, the process returns to step S11. Note that in a case where the start button 23 has not been turned ON (for example, in a case where a command of terminating a game has been input without turning ON the start button 23), the main CPU 41 cancels a result of the subtracting processing in step S12.

On the other hand, if the main CPU 41 determines, at the step S13, that the start button 23 has been turned ON, the main CPU 41 rearranges symbols based on a symbol arrangement (for example, see FIG. 2A). In the slot machine 10, the symbol arrangement of the type A is initially set. Accordingly, until a symbol arrangement is selected after the power is turned ON, symbols are rearranged based on the symbol arrangement of the type A. On the other hand, if symbol arrangement specification processing (see FIG. 7) which will be described later is conducted and a symbol arrangement other than the symbol arrangement of the type A is specified as a specified symbol arrangement, symbols are rearranged based on the specified symbol arrangement. If the ending condition is satisfied thereafter, symbols are rearranged based on the symbol arrangement of the type A.

Thereafter, the main CPU 41 sets the value of a number-of-games counter T set in the RAM 43 to T=T−1 (step S15). The number-of-games counter T is a counter which is set in the symbol arrangement specification processing (see FIG. 7) as will be described later. While the number-of-games counter T is set, rearrangement is performed based on the specified symbol arrangement.

Next, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not a jackpot trigger has been established, namely whether or not a winning combination “JACKPOT7” has been generated along a winning line (step S16). If it is determined that a jackpot trigger has been established, a progressive jackpot is executed (step S17). The number of coins to be paid out based on a progressive jackpot corresponds to the accumulated value (a value resulted from accumulation of a portion of the number of inserted game media) stored in the RAM 43 plus an initial payout value, and the payout thereof is performed through hand-pay. At the step S17, the main CPU 41 conducts processing such as, for example, outputting of notification sound from a speaker 29, lighting of a lamp 30, printing of the ticket 39 with a bar code having a bar code indicating the number of coins to be paid out printed thereon. Thereafter, the present subroutine is terminated.

On the other hand, if the main CPU 41 determines, at the step S16, that no jackpot trigger has been generated, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not a prize has been generated (step S18). In this case, the generation of a prize means generation of at least one winning combination out of “BLUE7”, “BELL”, “STRAWBERRY”, “PLUM”, “CHERRY”, “ORANGE”, “SCATTER×3”, “SCATTER×4”, and “SCATTER×5” along a winning line (see FIG. 2B).

If the main CPU 41 determines that a prize has been generated, the main CPU 41 pays out coins, according to the number of coins to be paid out defined for the prize and the number of BETs (step S19). If the coins are to be accumulated, the main CPU 41 conducts processing for adding a predetermined number of credits to the number of credits stored in the RAM 43. On the other hand, if the coins are to be paid out, the main CPU 41 transmits a control signal to the hopper 66 to cause it to pay out a predetermined number of coins.

If it is determined at the step S18 that no prize has been established or if the processing at the step S19 has been conducted, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not the symbol arrangement specification condition has been satisfied, namely whether or not three or more scatter symbols “SCATTER” have been rearranged within the symbol matrix SM (step S20). If it is determined that the symbol arrangement specification condition has been satisfied, the symbol arrangement specification processing is conducted (step S21).

Hereinafter, the symbol arrangement specification processing will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the subroutine of the symbol arrangement specification processing.

First, the main CPU 41 displays a symbol arrangement specification image (see FIG. 3B) to the lower image display panel 16 (step S30). At this time, the player can input a command for specifying a specified symbol arrangement through the touch panel 69 (see FIG. 5), by touching a predetermined position of the symbol arrangement specification image.

Next, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not a command has been input (step S31). If it is determined that no command has been input, the processing is returned to the step S31. On the other hand, if it is determined that a command has been input, the main CPU 41 specifies the specified symbol-arrangement corresponding to the command (step S32) and sets the number-of-games counter T in the RAM 43 (step S33). In the present embodiment, the number-of-games counter T is set to 100. Thereafter, the processing is returned to the processing of FIG. 6.

If it is determined, at the step S20, that the symbol arrangement specification condition has not been satisfied or if the processing at the step S21 has been conducted, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not the ending condition (the value of the number-of-games counter T≦0) has been satisfied (step S22). If it is determined that the ending condition has been satisfied, the symbol arrangement is restored to the symbol arrangement of the type A (step S23).

If it is determined, at the step S22, that the ending condition has not been satisfied or if the processing at the step S23 has been conducted, the main CPU 41 determines whether or not a bonus game trigger has been established, namely whether or not the symbols “APPLE” have been rearranged along the winning line (step S24). If it is determined that a bonus game trigger has been established, the main CPU 41 reads, from the RAM 43, a program for executing a predetermined number of free games as bonus games and conducts bonus game processing (step S25). If it is determined, at the step S24, that no bonus game trigger has been established or if the processing at the step S25 has been conducted, the present subroutine ends.

As described above, the slot machine 10 according to the present embodiment includes the lower image display panel 16 having a display area capable of arranging a total of 15 symbols S along 5 columns and 3 rows. Further, the slot machine 10 includes the main CPU 41 which determines whether or not the symbol arrangement specification condition (three or more scatter symbols have been rearranged base on the symbol arrangement of the type A) has been satisfied. If the symbol arrangement specification condition has been satisfied, a specified symbol arrangement is specified from plural candidate symbol arrangements, according to a command input by the player. Thereafter, plural symbols are rearranged during plural games (100 games), based on the specified symbol arrangement selected by the player.

Further, the slot machine 10 conducts a slot machine playing method according to the present invention as follows.

The main CPU 41 determines whether or not the symbol arrangement specification condition has been satisfied. If the symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, a specified symbol arrangement is specified from plural candidate symbol arrangements, according to a command input by the player. Thereafter, plural symbols are rearranged during plural games (100 games), based on the specified symbol arrangement selected by the player.

Although the embodiment according to the present invention is described, the description presents only some of the specific examples, and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way and specific constructions of each means and the like can be properly changed in terms of design. Besides, the effects described in the embodiment of the present invention are only the most preferable effects generated from the present invention and effects to be caused by the present invention is not limited to those described in the embodiment of the present invention.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof aforementioned may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that described above and which formed the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, above explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the aforementioned description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other systems and methods for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

The detailed descriptions aforementioned may be presented in terms of program procedures executed on a computer or network of computers. These procedural descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.

A procedure is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. These steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared and otherwise manipulated. It proves convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. It should be noted, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to in terms, such as adding or comparing, which are commonly associated with mental operations performed by a human operator. No such capability of a human operator is necessary, or desirable in most cases, in any of the operations described herein which form part of the present invention; the operations are machine and/or manual operations. Useful machines for performing the operation of the present invention include general purpose digital computers or similar devices.

The present invention also relates to apparatus for performing these operations. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purpose or it may comprise a general purpose computer as selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. The procedures presented herein are not inherently related to a particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose machines maybe used with programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove more convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these machines will appear from the description given. 

1. A slot machine comprising: a display having a display area to which a plurality of symbols are to be arranged; and a controller, said controller determining whether or not a predetermined symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, specifying a specified symbol arrangement from a plurality of candidate symbol arrangements according to a command input by a player when said symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, and rearranging the plurality of symbols within said display area, based on said specified symbol arrangement.
 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises selecting the plurality of candidate symbol arrangements from a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements, according to the number of BETs.
 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises rearranging the plurality of symbols based on said specified symbol arrangement, during a plurality of games.
 4. A slot machine comprising: a display having a display area to which a plurality of symbols are to be arranged; and a controller, said controller determining whether or not a predetermined symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, selecting a plurality of candidate symbol arrangements from a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements, according to the number of BETs, and when said symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, specifying a specified symbol arrangement from the plurality of candidate symbol arrangements according to a command input by a player, and rearranging the plurality of symbols within said display area based on said specified symbol arrangement.
 5. The slot machine according to claim 4, wherein said controller further comprises rearranging the plurality of symbols based on said specified symbol arrangement, during a plurality of games.
 6. A slot machine comprising: a display having a display area to which a plurality of symbols are to be arranged; and a controller, said controller determining whether or not a predetermined symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied, selecting the plurality of candidate symbol arrangements from a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements, according to the number of BETs, and when said symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied specifying a specified symbol arrangement from a plurality of candidate symbol arrangements according to a command input by a player, and rearranging the plurality of symbols within said display area during a plurality of games, based on said specified symbol arrangement.
 7. A playing method of a slot machine comprising: determining whether or not a predetermined symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied; specifying a specified symbol arrangement from a plurality of candidate symbol arrangements according to a command input by a player when said symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied; and rearranging the plurality of symbols within a display area of a display, based on said specified symbol arrangement, each of said steps conducted by a controller.
 8. The playing method of a slot machine according to claim 7, wherein said controller further comprises selecting the plurality of candidate symbol arrangements from a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements, according to the number of BETs.
 9. The playing method of a slot machine according to claim 7, wherein said controller further comprises rearranging the plurality of symbols based on said specified symbol arrangement, during a plurality of games.
 10. A playing method of a slot machine comprising: determining whether or not a predetermined symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied; selecting a plurality of candidate symbol arrangements from a plurality predetermined of symbol arrangements, according to the number of BETs, and when said symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied; specifying a specified symbol arrangement from the plurality of candidate symbol arrangements according to a command input by a player; and rearranging a plurality of symbols within a display area of a display, based on said specified symbol arrangement, each of said steps conducted by a controller.
 11. The playing method of a slot machine according to claim 10, wherein said controller further comprises rearranging the plurality of symbols based on said specified symbol arrangement, during a plurality of games.
 12. A playing method of a slot machine comprising: determining whether or not a predetermined symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied; selecting a plurality of candidate symbol arrangements from a plurality of predetermined symbol arrangements, according to the number of BETs, and when said symbol arrangement specification condition is satisfied; specifying a specified symbol arrangement from the plurality of candidate symbol arrangements according to a command input by a player; and rearranging a plurality of symbols within a display area of a display based on said specified symbol arrangement, during a plurality of games, each of said steps conducted by a controller. 